Entrusting to God
The Ambassador's Handbook • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Last week we saw the glory and joy of suffering, and how those things are not present if you are suffering for sin. This week continues that same thought and wraps up the body of Peter’s argument before he moves on to the closing remarks in chapter 5.
iv. There is no reason to be ashamed of suffering for Jesus. (4:16, Proverbs 11:31, 2 Timothy 1:12)
In marked contrast with the glory that comes from suffering for Christ, there is no glory in suffering for sin. In fact, there is shame. But there is nothing shameful about suffering as a Christian.
It’s interesting to first note the use of the word Christian. It is only used a few times in the Bible because it was a term of derision used by the world against believers. The word being used here is interesting because it seems that “Christian” was an accusation someone would make against someone living like Jesus. They might have considered it on the same level with being a murderer, thief, evildoer, or busybody.
So when someone suffers with this as the accusation, there is no shame.
It is right to be ashamed when you sin. Shame is the reward for behaving wickedly.
But when you suffer for righteousness, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It is an act of courage and strength by striving for righteousness, not cowardice and weakness by giving into sin.
Additionally, being accused as a Christian would have been a compliment to the early church. Imagine someone tried to slander you by saying you were acting just like Christ. That would be a cause for rejoicing for us. That’s our ultimate goal. It’s definitely not shameful to be like Christ.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
On the contrary, someone suffering as a Christian should glorify God on this behalf. “On this behalf” means basically “for this reason.” We looked at this last week, how suffering is a gift from God because it draws us closer to Him, lets us partake in his glory, and shows that we are worthy of his name. So when it comes, we should rejoice and glorify God.
v. If God’s people are judged, then the wicked will surely be judged for their persecution. (4:17–18, Amos 3:2, Hebrews 12:7, Ezekiel 18:24–28, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Jeremiah 25:15–29)
In this last statement on persecution, Peter takes a new perspective on it. In addition to all the things he has already said, he adds the idea that persecution is judgment.
What does this verse mean? Several things are going on here. First, it is a warning. No one should suffer as a murderer, thief, or evildoer because God will judge his own house. This is very clear throughout Scripture.
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
We may think that, as God’s children, we are exempt from this punishment. And while we are free from the ultimate punishment that will come upon the wicked, God would not be a loving father if he did not chastise his wandering children.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
So this is a warning. In persecution, we can be more vulnerable to temptations to sin. Especially sinning so that we fit in with the people who are putting pressure on us. But God still judged his people during this time and will not allow sin to fester.
Additionally, even if someone is not living in some egregious sin, God can send judgment in the form of refinement. There is always more sin to purge from life and more ways in which we can be like Jesus. This judgment comes so the church can reflect Jesus more and more.
But this judgment of Christians is also a promise to us and warning to nonbelievers.
First, the promise. If God will judge those who follow and serve Him, surely He will judge those who rebel against Him.
For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. Then took I the cup at the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me: To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people; And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea, Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners, And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert, And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes, And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.
Judgement must begin at the house of God, but we see that it doesn’t end there. It must first begin with us. But it will go on to the unbelievers as well. If God’s own children are judged, how much more will His enemies receive punishment?
The next verse echoes this idea. “Scarcely” speaks of the severity of the judgment—without God, there is no way he would make it out. It brings to mind this verse:
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Righteous people, whether for punishment or refinement, may scarcely make it out of their trials. They may only be delivered by their eternal life, with no human help able to save them.
With this in view, how much more will the ungodly and sinner be destroyed? How thoroughly will their end come?
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: Much more the wicked and the sinner.
Christians enduring God’s judgment can take that judgment as a promise that the destruction of their persecutors is imminent. God is not going to judge the righteous and let the heathen off the hook.
Some non-Christians may see the suffering of Christians and realize this fact. They may take this warning themselves and repent. Now, this doesn’t happen very much, but we saw in Jeremiah that it is something they should take note of.
So how do we reconcile these two views of persecution? How is it a gift from God that draws us into fellowship with him and makes us more like Christ, and also a punishment that comes upon the disobedient?
I think the purpose depends on how each person is living. For someone who is so Christlike that they are being accused as a Christian, it is a glorious gift meant to refine him and reflect some of Christ’s glory. For someone living in sin, it is punishment meant to shake him up and draw him back to God. Or it could be both at once—someone might have some minor area of sin but otherwise be serving God.
For example, the apostles remaining in Jerusalem instead of spreading abroad. The Bible tells us that they were persecuted because they wouldn’t spread out. However, this wasn’t some major thing. They were disobeying Jesus’ command but I think it was more due to misunderstanding and excitement than rebellion or unwillingness.
These two verses give both an encouragement and a warning. It’s up to us to decide which way it applies to us.
vi. The faithful Creator watches over the righteous even in persecution. (4:19, Jeremiah 32:6–15, Daniel 3:16–18, Psalm 138:8, 146:5–7)
When we are facing down persecution—especially in the situation where someone will scarcely be saved—it is vital to look to God for support. That’s what the word “wherefore” means. Because the judgment of God is a fearful thing, we should commit our souls to God.
Who are those who suffer according to the will of God? I believe this is talking about those who suffer for righteousness. Those who suffer as Christians and not because of sin. Suffering as a Christian is the will of God for us, but suffering for sin is not. He does not want anyone to suffer for their own mistakes, but when we bring it upon ourselves, He will not remove the consequences.
What does it mean to commit the keeping of our souls to Him? I think the key is this—we allow our present to be defined by our future.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Facts about Furnaces (1 Peter 4:12–19)
The Prophet Jeremiah had been telling the people that one day their situation would change and they would be restored to their land. But at that time, the Babylonian army occupied the land and was about to take Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, gave Jeremiah an option to purchase the family land which was now occupied by enemy soldiers. The prophet had to “put his money where his mouth is.” And he did it! As an act of faith, he purchased the land and became, no doubt, the laughingstock of the people in Jerusalem. But God honored his faith because Jeremiah lived according to the Word that he preached.
Like Jeremiah, we should consider our home in heaven to be already in our ownership. We should consider our treasure there to be the focus of our labors here. And we should let the certainty of our eternal life overrule the uncertainty of our mortal life. If we have confidence that God is keeping our souls, we don’t have to fear what man can do to our bodies.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Peter gives a summary statement of what this looks like—well doing. Doing good is one way we commit the keeping of our souls to God because it is not natural for us to do good. Of course, it should become natural, but it is still contrary to our basic human desires. We want to look out for ourselves and make sure we are taken care of. By living a life of well doing, we are telling God that we trust His promises to take care of our needs when we take care of others.
This promise of God’s is echoed in His description as a faithful Creator. Why is this title used? Why not judge, to match the theme of the previous verses? Because a creator takes care of his creation.
If you make something, you feel an obligation to maintain it. It’s only natural. You care about what happens to it. The same is true of God.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: Forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, The sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
Even in the middle of persecution and judgment, we are reminded of God’s love and care.
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He is looking out for us even when—especially when—we feel like he’s turned against us. Think of Job. It may seem like everything is a mess, but God is weaving a greater picture through it all.
Seeing that the godly know that their sufferings are by God’s will, to chasten them that they may not perish with the world, they have good reason to trust God cheerfully amidst sufferings, persevering in well-doing.
Exploring the Epistles of Peter: An Expository Commentary (a. Undaunted Commitment (4:19a))
We have to fall back on this truth—God is too loving to be unkind, too wise to make any mistakes, and too powerful to be thwarted in His sublime purpose. Many aspects of suffering baffle us. They make no sense to us at all. But that is because we now get only one side of the story. One day we shall get to know it all, and great and eternal will be our praise!